Hypericum triquetrifolium, Turra

55. H. triquetrifolium Turra , Farset. Nov. Gen. 12 (1765)

( H. crispum L. ).

Stems 13-55 cm, erect or decumbent, 2-lined, with divaricate branches. Leaves 3-15(-20) mm, lanceolate-triangular or rarely ovate-triangular to linear-oblong, amplexicaul, usually without reticulate venation, sometimes with medium to small translucent dots; margin undulate. Sepals oblong to ovateoblong, obtuse or apiculate, entire or denticulate, without black dots. Petals without black dots or rarely with one intramarginal dot. Capsule with longitudinal vittae or vesicles. Dry, stony or sandy places. E. part o f Mediterranean region, extending westwards to Sicilia; naturalized further west. Al Cr G r It Si Tu [BI Hs].

56. H. elegans Stephan ex Willd. , Sp. Pl. 3: 1469 (1802).

Stems 15-55 cm, 2-lined, erect or decumbent and rooting at the base. Leaves 10-30 mm, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate to oblong or linear-oblong, sessile, with obscurely reticulate venation, and with several large translucent dots; margin plane. Sepals lanceolate to narrowly oblong, acute to acuminate, black-glandular-denticulate or with sessile marginal glands, occasionally with one superficial black dot. Petals with only marginal black dots. Capsule with longitudinal vittae. Dry places; somewhat calcicole. C. & E. Europe, from Turkey to C. Ural and westwards to W. Germany. Au Bu Cz Ge Hu Ju Rm Rs (C, W, K, E) Tu.

Sect. Brathys (Mutis ex L. fil.) Choisy . Glabrous, perennial or annual herbs. Black glands absent. Stem 4-lined. Flowers in pyramidal to corymbose cymes. Petals and stamens persistent. Stamens reduced to 5, or in 5 indefinite fascicles or groups. Styles (2-)3-5. Capsule with longitudinal vittae. Seeds longitudinally ribbed and with transverse striations.

The above description applies to subsect. Spachium R. Keller, which alone is represented in Europe.

Five North American species of this subsection have been found in Europe since 1834. All grow in damp places, and some have been recorded in areas previously well known to botanists. Their seeds are small, as in other species of Hypericum , and it appears probable that they have been introduced relatively recently from North America by wading birds or among agricultural seeds or fodder. See H. Heine, Bauhinial’. 71-78 (1962).

57. H. gymnanthum Engelm. & A. Gray , Boston Jour. Nat. Hist. 5: 212 (1845).

Perennial. Stems (20-)25-45(-60) cm, usually branched only in the inflorescence. Leaves 10-25(-30) mm, ovate- to lanceolate-triangular, cordate to rounded at the base, 5- to 7-veined. Sepals 3-5-5 mm. Capsule 3-5 mm, narrowly ovoid. Drained peat-bog. Poland (near Poznan). *Po. First observed in 1884.

58. H. mutilum L. , Sp. Pl. 787 (1753).

Perennial or annual. Stems 10-40 cm, usually branched above the middle. Leaves 7-20(-30) mm, ovate to oblong or lanceolate, rounded to broadly cuneate at the base, 3- to 5-veined. Sepals 1-5-3 mm. Capsule 2-5-4 mm, ellipsoid. Marshes. Germany, Poland, Italy and France. *Ga *Ge *It *Po. First observed in Italy in 1834 (? extinct), in Germany in 1874, in France in 1881, and in Poland in 1885.

59. H. majus (A. Gray) Britton , Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 5: 225 (1894).

Perennial or annual. Stems 10-35 cm, unbranched or branched above. Leaves 15-40 mm, lanceolate or oblong, rounded to broadly cuneate at the base, (3-)5- to 7-veined. Sepals (4-)5-7 mm. Capsule 5-5-7-5 mm, narrowly ovoid. Margins o f ponds and streams. S. & E. Germany; E. France (Haute-Saône). *Ga *Ge. First observed in Germany in 1945 and in France before 1955.